Premier Steven Miles announced major funding boost for Brisbane Pride, LGBTQIA+ Pride events throughout Queensland, and the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance if elected in October
If elected, the funding boost would also be made permanent
Support for regional Pride events means all Queenslanders can be engaged in inclusive, respectful and empowering events
Premier Steven Miles has joined hundreds of Queenslanders to show his support for Queensland’s proud LGBTQIA+ communities at today’s Brisbane Pride Rally.
If elected in October, his Labor Government will double funding to support Brisbane Pride, regional LGBTQIA+ Pride festivals and events throughout Queensland, and the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance.
This builds on the commitment of the Miles Government’s whole of government LGBTQIA+ strategy, Pride in our Communities 2024-2032, strengthening the Pride in our Communities 2024-2032 Action Plan.
The funding boost would also be made permanent, providing much needed certainty and support for the community.
This means a total investment of $4.51 million over four years from 2024-25 to 2027-28 including:
$1.2 million over four years in support for regional pride events and festivals across the state and an LGBTQIA+ arts grants program
$720,000 over four years for operational sponsorship funding for Brisbane Pride March and Fair Day
$2.59 million over four years to fund the LGBTQIA+ Alliance
By supporting regional pride events across Queensland, LGBTQIA+ Queenslanders, all Queenslanders can be part of inclusive, respectful and empowering events no matter where they live.
By doubling funding to the Alliance, we can ensure that the LGBTQIA+ community sector organisations can thrive, delivering on our Pride in our Communities Strategy.
Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
“Queensland’s queer and diverse communities make our state great, and I’m proud to back them.
“Now, I will double the financial support available to the sector if elected in October.
“Because I believe even more people can be supported by these organisations and included in important events.
“My government has done more for LGBTQIA+ Queenslanders than any government in the state’s history, and I will do what matters to keep that legacy alive.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communities Leeanne Enoch:
“We believe all Queenslanders should be able to participate and be included in their communities and enjoy social and economic wellbeing
“Doubling the funding for Brisbane Pride, regional LGBTQIA+ Pride festivals and events throughout Queensland, and funding for the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance means more people can be reached through these important events and organisations.
“David Crisafulli and his LNP colleagues voted against outlawing conversion therapy, and just this month voted against strengthening protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and historic homosexual conviction.
“This election David Crisafulli and the LNP have handpicked extremist candidates like Amanda Stoker who described a person’s sexuality as a “personal choice”.
“When the LNP were last in government, David Crisafulli and the LNP cut funding to crucial services like QAHC, rolled back civil unions and surrogacy rights for same-sex couples, and tried to gag NGOs who spoke out on social issues.
“LGBTQIA+ Queenslanders can’t risk David Crisafulli and the LNP again.
“Only Labor and a re-elected Miles Government will continue to support and invest in Queensland’s diverse LGBTQIA+ communities, doing what matters for all Queenslanders.”
Background
Since 2015 Labor has delivered on initiatives to ensure every Queenslander can thrive with respect including:
Reinstating the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Roundtable
Reinstating civil partnerships for same-sex couples
Equalising the age of consent
Removing the ‘gay panic’ defence
Banning conversion therapy
Expunging historical offences for homosexuality, formally apologising to those who had been charged
Amending the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act so that a person’s legal identity could match their lived identity
Partnering with the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health to deliver a state-wide model of gender affirming care and to deliver Yarns Heal, a peer-led mental health support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities.
Delivering a funding uplift to Queensland Children’s Gender Service, to deliver more gender affirming care, faster.
Delivering waived co-payments for HIV anti-retroviral treatment for all people living with HIV in Queensland, an important milestone towards our goal of eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030
Amended the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 to strengthen protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, established historic homosexual conviction as a protected attribute and established a positive duty on all employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate discrimination.
In 2022, David Crisafulli and the LNP joined with One Nation and the Katter’s Australian Party to back a far-right motion attacking transgender women in sport. In Parliament, the LNP undermined the historic Births, Deaths and Marriage amendment.
When last in Government, the LNP discontinued the LGBTI Roundtable and rolled back civil unions and surrogacy rights for same-sex couples.
When he was Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie refused to take action to expunge historical convictions for homosexuality, only agreeing to reconsider after pressure from LGBTQIA+ community organisations.
ENDS